Stags Stop Steelers To Earn Valuable Point With Resolute Defending

History beckoned for Tampines Rovers under the cold lights of the Pohang Steelyard, with a win enough to secure their maiden AFC Champions League (ACL) Two Round of 16 qualification. Riding on the shoulders of giants who came before them in their 80-year history, The Stags have travelled with belief and purpose, determined to achieve this historic milestone.

Having defied the odds once with a stunning 1-0 victory in the home fixture, the boys in Yellow and Black now faced the momentous task of replicating that feat in Pohang, South Korea, in the crucial away fixture. With the Steel Warriors eager to avenge their previous defeat, a challenging encounter lay ahead for the Stags. Head Coach Noh Rahman made three changes from the side that defeated Hougang United in the Singapore Premier League. Koya Kazama and Glenn Kweh returned to the starting XI, while Jacob Mahler made his first start of the season. 

The match got underway with Koya playing the first ball. From the outset, the boys in Yellow and Black pressed relentlessly, aiming to disrupt Pohang’s buildup and create turnovers in dangerous areas.

First Half: Pohang Asserts Dominance

Even as the South Korean side dominated possession in the attacking third, the Stags, as they did in the first fixture between the sides, defended with remarkable discipline, closing spaces and maintaining a tight defensive shape. The first big chance came in the 10th minute. A clever through ball from Jacob Mahler found Hide Higashikawa, only for Pohang’s goalkeeper Yun Pyeong-guk to intercept smartly.

In the 15th minute, Kim In-sung unleashed a shot from the corner of the box, but it went wide over the crossbar. Shortly after, Kim Dong-jin delivered a well-struck free kick in the 19th minute, only for Syazwan Buhari to react superbly and tip it away, keeping the Stags in the contest. The Stags continued to absorb the early pressure with composure, frustrating the hosts’ early attempts.

The Stags Strike Back

Tampines showed glimpses of attacking intent with some promising exchanges, despite being largely under the spell of Pohang’s dominance. Following a clever combination between Trent Buhagiar and Hide Higashikawa, Takeshi Yoshimoto’s strike in the final third was blocked, denying the Stags a clear chance on goal.

The Stags’ defence was tested again in the 33rd minute when Cho Jae-hun found himself in the box with a clear chance, but his shot just drifted over the bar. As the first half drew to a close, the Stags created another bright opportunity. A deflection off Koya Kazama found Hide Higashikawa in a dangerous one-on-one chance with goalkeeper Yun Pyeong-guk, but his attempt cannoned off the crossbar. 

The first half ended in a stalemate. The Stags held firm under pressure, while Pohang’s attacking threat had yet to find the net. The Stand, watching both in person and back home, awaited the massive 45 minutes to follow.

Second Half: All To Play For 

The Steelers made a strong set of triple changes at halftime, with Oberdan Alionco, Lee Ho-jae, and Juninho Rocha coming on for the home team.

With the second half underway, the match promised more intensity and drama as both sides sought to break the deadlock. The boys in Yellow and Black continued to show defensive resilience, as they held on bravely to Pohang’s persistent attacks, but The Stags showed flashes in the first half that they were ready to strike when the opportunity presented itself. 

And the opportunity did indeed come.

The Stags Break The Deadlock 

Tampines’ sustained pressing and structured play finally paid off, resulting in a clinical finish to open the scoring. In the 56th minute, Dylan Fox delivered a long pass to Hide Higashikawa, who smartly peeled away from Pohang captain Lee Dong-Hee, setting up Glenn Kweh to calmly slot the ball between goalkeeper Yun Pyeong-guk’s legs, into the net - putting Tampines ahead and sending The Stand into scenes of jubilation.

The game was far from over though, and Pohang nearly found the equaliser a mere few minutes later. After a corner-kick, the home side had a great opportunity as Oberdan Alionco’s shot blasted off the crossbar. It is clear that the resolute defending had to continue as the Home side pressed forward.

The elite Pohang offense continued to create chaos in the box with a flurry of shots, but the Stags’ resolute defence again came to the rescue. In the 62nd minute, Pohang brought out a brilliant save from Club Captain Syazwan Buhari on an attempted volley in the box by Lee Ho-jae.

A series of changes followed for the away side - first, Faris Ramli replaced goalscorer Glenn Kweh in the 64th minute, providing fresh attacking options. Seeking to maintain their lead, Tampines then introduced Seiga Sumi onto the field, replacing Hide Higashikawa in the 72nd minute, adding fresh legs and stability to the midfield. 

These changes proved inspiring, as another promising moment for the Stags appeared in the 79th minute as Trent Buhagiar raced to the attacking third, but Lee Dong-Hee timely blocked his shot.

With the game entering its dying moments, the Stags made a double change as Koya Kazama and Trent Buhagiar were replaced by Tara Ndao and Taufik Suparno. The Stand held their breath as they awaited a grandstand finish.

Pohang Show Their Mettle

Alas, in the 87th minute, The Steelers equalised as Syazwan Buhari’s initial save from an Oberdan volley was rebounded to Cho Sang-hyeok, who came on for the hosts minutes before, to tap into the net and salvage a point for the South Koreans. The thrilling match then came to a close following the referee’s final whistle, with nothing separating the sides in this encounter.

It was nevertheless an outstanding night for The Stags as they remained top of Group H in the ACL Two 2025/26 campaign undefeated with 10 points in 4 games played, against some of the continent’s best. Qualification is now at arm’s length for Tampines, needing a point in the reverse Kaya fixture to mathematically seal qualification - they must stay focused and deliver another strong performance in their next match, to complete their historic push.

Post-Match Thoughts

“We knew that the game would be a hard test for us,” but Head Coach Noh Rahman was proud of the team’s performance. “The team showed that we are resilient in most of the defending moments, and it was pleasing to see the team staying together and sacrificing for each other”. 

Goalscorer Glenn also added: “Everyone stuck to the plan, worked hard for each other, and showed great character. We defended well as a unit, and I think the result reflects the effort we put in”. 

Speaking about the team’s spirit, Glenn shared: “I thought we (as a team) have shown a good mentality and fighting spirit to keep pushing till the end, earning us a hard-fought point”. 

Ahead of the decisive clash against Kaya F.C.–Iloilo at home, Head Coach Noh Rahman urges The Stand to give the boys their fullest support. “It is important to have the support from the Stand. The players would like to play in front of a big crowd and it will give them the extra motivation to do well”.

All attention now turns to the next group fixture, happening on the 27th of November. With the incredible support of The Stand, The Stags will be eager to make history on home soil.